Harrison Central has a new head football coach, announcing the hiring of Chris Fortenberry.
Fortenberry most recently served as the defensive coordinator at Columbia High School, where he helped lead the Wildcats to a 15-0 record and MHSAA 4A state championship in 2025. Columbia beat Kosciusko, 6-0, for the title.
Fortenberry’s background includes 24 years of experience, 15 of which have been as a defensive coordinator and three as the head coach at Richton High School from 2013-15. With a 16-19 overall record, Fortenberry led Richton to the playoffs twice.
“We are extremely excited about the level of experience and leadership Coach Fortenberry brings to Harrison Central,” principal Rachel Burt said. “His proven success, commitment to building strong relationships, and focus on developing young men align perfectly with our vision for Red Raider football.
“We are confident he will help strengthen community connections, instill pride in our program, and continue building a culture of excellence both on and off the field.”
Fortenberry inherits a Harrison Central team in desperate need of a rebuild. The past two seasons have combined for a 4-17 record with no playoff appearances. The Red Raiders, which compete in MHSAA 7A, have not had a winning season since 2023 when they went 6-5 and won their first playoff game in 35 years.
A meet and greet with Fortenberry will be held Friday at 4 p.m. at Harrison Central.